Kapex fence alignment

[CADru]

Any Kapex owners up for a confirm/deny test with regards to the Main Fence and/or Auxiliary Fence alignment?

Are both the main fence and the auxiliary fence on your Kapex in perfect alignment perpendicular to a crosscut?Can you slide a true straightedge across the face of the main fence (passing by the opening) to the other side without having the straightedge make contact with the end of the fence edge? If you elevate the straightedge (I used a 2 x 4 sitting on the saw table) and test this same condition with the auxiliary fences (locked down) does the straight edge make contact with the end of the fence edge?  You would have to slide the straight edge across the opening in both directions to confirm this.
In my case when sliding straightedge across both main fence and auxiliary fence (from left to right) my straight edge makes contact with the end of the adjacent fence edge. This will cause a slight binding of material against blade before a crosscut is complete.

TIA for those willing to report their findings here.

 

[Cheese]

Can you slide a true straightedge across the face of the main fence (passing by the opening) to the other side without having the straightedge make contact with the end of the fence edge?

Yes...the straightedge will not catch the edge of the fence. Here are a couple of photos.

 

[Birdhunter]

I seem to remember a Festool tech showing me how to adjust the fence alignment. I think he showed me two screws for each side of the fence. This happened at an Atlanta roadshow some time ago so I may not be remembering accurately. I do know that a kickback can bend the fence. I had to replace the right fence for this reason.

Maybe an expert can opine about fence adjustment.

 

[peter halle]

There are two bolts holding each side of the fence.  There have been times that when members here loosened the bolts on the right side and then retightened them the fence came into alignment (if my memory is correct).  It would make sense that if those bolts were over tightened that there might be creep forward on that side.

Might be worth a try.  If they come into alignment then come up with a way to clamp something in place to prevent the creep whn you retighten.

Just a thought.

Peter

 

[CADru]

Yes...the straightedge will not catch the edge of the fence. Here are a couple of photos.

Thanks for the info and photos [member=44099]Cheese[/member]
Here are some photos of my Kapex fence in an attempt to explain further the issue. I can fit a .008" (.203mm) gauge between the straightedge on the left side fence when the straightedge is across cutting path, touching both the left and the right fence. When sliding the straightedge across the cutting path from left to right the straightedge makes contact with the end of the right side fence.
I don't think it's too much to ask for the fence on this saw to be spot on. Seeing how the main fence is a single piece casting with no adjustment to remedy this issue. Am I asking too much for a $1400+ CSMS?

 

[CADru]

There are two bolts holding each side of the fence.  There have been times that when members here loosened the bolts on the right side and then retightened them the fence came into alignment (if my memory is correct).  It would make sense that if those bolts were over tightened that there might be creep forward on that side.

Might be worth a try.  If they come into alignment then come up with a way to clamp something in place to prevent the creep whn you retighten.

Just a thought.

Peter

I took a look at this and loosened the bolts on the right side of the main fence. It's still out of alignment (it did not move)

The main fence is a one piece casting and I don't see that half-circle supporting section (behind the blade) flexing in an attempt to remedy the out of alignment issue. This single piece cast fence should be spot on in alignment. Clamping to prevent creep when tightening would require a hefty straight edge material. I don't think you could correct this alignment issue without heat and we ain't going there.

 

[CADru]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] [member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] [member=1674]Peter Halle[/member]
Here's one solution to the out of alignment fence casting issue. At 3:26 into the video,,, BINGO! Expect my small shop at the moment is sans jointer  [sad]

 

[peter halle]

Well, sorry about that.  But it seems by reading your other posts that it appears that your tool is in warranty and that would entitle your tool back to Festool under warranty.  Odd that in your previous posts this wasn't mentioned.  I doubt that Festool would have removed the fence to work on the motor, and the improper shipping packaging you mentioned wouldn't have hit the fence I imagine.  Weird stuff happens.

Might want to call Festool.  Perhaps they will send out a new fence for you instead of you sending it in.

Just a suggestion.

Peter

 

[CADru]

This fence alignment issue was listed in the Complaint/Problem section of both the first and second repair tickets. I thought I would see if I could get some actual fence alignment test results ( thanks [member=44099]Cheese[/member] ) from other Kapex owners. Believe it or not my Kapex his heading back to Lebanon for a third time. My Kapex is racking up some frequent flyer miles
  [popcorn]

 

[Cheese]

Sorry about your issues, my Kapex was pretty much dead nuts out of the box...I tweaked the lasers and tweaked the adjustments and she is sweet. I can't remember the results of the 5-cut method, but it was pretty incredible. I cut 6' & 10' lengths of trim for windows and the 45's were all perfect, allowing perfect alignment of all of the trim pieces.

 

[ChuckM]

[member=44099]
Here's one solution to the out of alignment fence casting issue. At 3:26 into the video,,, BINGO!

That trick on the jointer was neat!

Thumbs up for using the clamp in every cut, too! Safety first.

 

[Birdhunter]

I made the auxiliary fences for my Kapex, but my clamps won't clear the wood. Guess I'll have to thin them. I really like the idea of planing the auxiliary fences flat while mounted on the metal fence. Just have to be careful not to plane the screw heads.

 

[Cheese]

I made the auxiliary fences for my Kapex, but my clamps won't clear the wood. Guess I'll have to thin them.

I made mine from 9mm Baltic birch. I also trimmed the tip of the holdowns off so that they had more range and would pivot around the fence without having to lift them up.